Box Score WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Fairleigh Dickinson women's soccer team defeated Hartford, 4-3, on the back of three goals from
Rachel Hoekstra (Bowmanville, Ontario/Clarington Central ) and a golden goal strike from co-captain
Amanda Goulet (Quebec City, Quebec/Shattuck-St. Mary's ). With the victory, the Knights improve to 6-3-0 on the season, while the Hawks fall to 4-2-3 overall.
"It was a great win against an extremely good team. We battled so hard after falling behind and then to come back after they went ahead late shows how much character this team has," Head Coach
Eric Teepe said, "If we can play like that, committed for 90 minutes, we will be tough to play against."
The redshirt sophomore Hoekstra scored three goals in regulation, the first hat trick of her career, to help the Knights reach extra time where Goulet scored her third goal of the season after seven minutes.
Spremullo and senior Chanel Johnson each scored within the opening 31 minutes to take a 2-0 lead before Hoekstra scored her first of the match, unassisted, six minutes later, a header off a rebounded effort.
Hoekstra single-handedly tied the contest up at two in the 69th minute after dribbling into the box and beating senior goalkeeper Ali Koerkenmeier from six yards out.
"[Hoekstra] was dominant from start to finish both off the dribble and in the air." Teepe said.
After Spremullo's late goal, her second of the match, Hoekstra was able to find the back of the net in the 88th minute and force extra time.
Goulet scored her second golden goal winner of the season in the 97th minute by heading in senior
Kasey Schiavoni (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy)'s corner kick at the far post. Schiavoni's assist gives her 10 for her career which moves her into a tie for fourth-most all-time.
FDU outshot the Hawks, 18-15, including a game-high 10 shots from Hoekstra. Junior goalkeeper
Felicia Burr (Bellingham, Mass./Blackstone-Millville ) tied a season-high with five saves and improved to 6-3-0 on the season.
Hoekstra's three goals give her eight on the season, one off from matching her record-tying mark set during her NEC Rookie of the Year campaign in 2012. For her career, the redshirt sophomore now has 17, which is fourth-most in program history.
The Knights travel to NJIT on Sunday afternoon for their final match before beginning Northeast Conference play. Kickoff from Newark is slated for 1 p.m.
